he’s about done rambling now, putting a mental doggy ear on the subject to get back to on a later date— of course he finds himself amusing, labeling such as the only critic that truly matters in the wide scope of things. entertained, his lips quirk in a rightful smile, frame half coiled in armor & taking a stance in prep for potential backlash. one sturdy fist with calloused, bruised knuckles lifts, pointing toward the wall in accompaniment to the sound of his neck cracking.
❝ —— alright. Clean up is all yours. Don’t correct me if I misheard you. 3, 2… ❞
following the instantaneous flash of light, brilliantly illuminated in its own right, the energy surging from his palm is almost a commercial success— hinges being met with an unfortunate backfire, however, black smog rising from the source as the mechanic makes the inane mistake to turn the glove around and look at it— not the most ideal way to pinpoint an error. he’s not surprised and, in all honesty, a bit disappointed feeling his body jet backwards on a steady blast towards impending doom. doom in the form of a concrete wall. shucks.
his feet are carrying him forward and he wonders why he’s stumbling and each exhale is inaccurately rhythmic until Bruce realizes it’s because he's laughing not audibly, at least, but his shoulders shake and his diaphragm contracts and spreads out, pulsating amused chuckles through Bruce’s core. ❝ I don’t think it worked. Your energy output’s all off Plus, I think you forgot how to aim. ❞ Bruce has pulled himself together and he proceeds to extend his arm out for Tony to take with his palm that isn’t gauntlet-clad. the mechanic slumped on the floor after tossing himself rather unceremoniously at the wall. A good first try, he supposes. Tony’s test-runs aren’t properly christened without a few ❛ fireworks ❜ which Bruce remembers are more like stylish speed-bumps.
❝ I take it you and Stark get along pretty well. Good. Maybe you can keep him in check so I don’t have to baby sit him—
—Well, I hope all is well for you, Dr. Banner. Are you still a doctor or are you a full time ‘scientist’ with Stark? ❞
❝ I’m sure between Ms. Potts and I, as long as Tony’s not causing city- wide damage, we’ve got him under control. ❞
❝ Playing doctor, for now. SHIELD keeps offering for me to come in and take up some of their lab space I’m still mulling over the offer, but I’m sure you’ll see me around sooner or later. They’re very persistent. ❞
❝ Yeah, fun. I thought so too. Same wavelength. Spooky. Are you sure we’re not soulmates? Too soon. Let’s grab dinner later; before the charm sets in. —— well, should only last about… five or six minutes, give or take the whiplash. But, see? Look at you go. You already know the process. Ready? Time to hustle, Banner. Sturdy stance there, this shouldn’t hurt you. Probably. ❞
if it weren’t for bruce’s ability to shut out about sixtypercent of tony’s babble, his head would have been spinning by now. however, he follows tony’s command for the sake of potential entertainment, widening his legs to a shoulder’s width, flashing a glance towards all of the equipment expensive, fascinating equipment all crowded on desks so vulnerably behind the engineer.
❝ I do not call dibs on clean-up duty. Also, don’t worry if this ends up hurting me… you’ll know. ❞
“For starters, I’m here, well obviously I’m here, but I’m here because you interest me. I’m not here on any official business. I wanted to find you, and I didn’t really think what I would say or do when I did.”
( this makes him lift his head. curiosity settles in. he’s not irritated when he speaks, but bitterly amused. )
❝ So you’re just a… what? Walk-in visitor? Fascinated by the man who’s got a big, angry ball-and-chain? I’m afraid I’m not following your motive, here. ❞
”Y-yeah, I know. I kinda… learnt that the hard way.”
She means, of course, the time at which she both discovered her most active power, and murdered her father (though, the two have become rather… interchangeable within her mind now). A hand moves to run through her hair and pull it to one side of her neck, and she shifts from one foot to the other.
”How much do you know about me?”
❝ The basics. Your name, age, gender. Hometown. So on. I figured I’d keep it as impersonal as possible and let you tell me whatever you feel is worth disclosing. I know I prefer it that way. ❞
( Bruce’s index finger taps the clipboard that had been sitting next to her on the desk when he first entered, which held a standard SHIELD chart for mutants and agents alike. )
❝ I suppose maybe I should ask you what you’re willing to tell me instead of trying to pry it out of you then, shouldn’t I? ❞
“I was… just offering. I mean. I feel out of place at them. And I feel like you and I haven’t… Had time to know each other. I’m used to knowing the men I fight with.”
( and now he definitely feels bad. )
❝ I mean I’m not saying I can’t. I just haven’t exactly been to anything big and social for… a long time now. … When did you say fundraiser was? Tonight? ❞
